| Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effects of different agitation techniques of sodium
hypochlorite (NaOCL) as the final irrigation with XP-Finisher file, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI),
Er:YAG laser and irrigation with conventional syringes, on penetration of Sure Seal Root bioceramic sealer
into dentinal tubules. Methods and Materials: Forty freshly extracted single-rooted human teeth were
included in the present in vitrostudy. All the teeth were prepared up to #40 (4%) with Bio Race rotary file
system, using crown-down technique. After chemomechanical preparation, the teeth were randomly
assigned to 4 groups based on the agitation protocol: conventional needle irrigation (CNI) with a 30-G
needle in a syringe, PUI, Er:YAG laser and XP-Finisher file, Subsequent to the agitation procedure, the root
canals were obturated with tapered bioceramic-covered gutta-percha point and, bioceramic sealer, using
the single-cone technique. The maximum penetration of the sealer into the dentinal tubules was determined
in the coronal, middle and apical thirds using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique. After
confirmation of the normal distribution of data with Shapiro-Wilk test, Data were analyzed using the one- way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: The mean penetration depth of the bioceramic sealer into the
dentinal tubules in the PUI group was greater than that of other groups; however, the difference between
the two PUI and Er:YAG laser groups in the apical third was not significant (P=0.078). Er:YAG laser, PUI
and XP-Finisher file agitation techniques resulted in significantly greater penetration of the bioceramic
sealer into the dentinal tubules compared to the CNI (P<0.001). The XP-Finisher file technique in the apical
(P=0.752) and middle thirds (P=0.339) and the Er:YAG laser technique in the apical thirds (P=0.086) were
not significantly different from the conventional irrigation technique. Conclusion: The PUI technique
resulted in significantly deeper penetration of the Bioceramic sealer into the dentinal tubules compared to
the three other techniques. |